What’s the cost of democracy in California? If we calculate that based just on the pages informing the state’s 22 million voters about Proposition 1 in the official March voter guide, about $8 million. Each page of the primary voter guide cost $117,880 for printing, translations, audio, mailing, and postage,...
Top Russian Military Officials Are Being Arrested. Why Is It Happening?
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied. The arrests started shortly before President Vladimir...
Delta Tunnel Water Project May Finally Be Nearing a Historic Decision
It’s been almost a half-century since I first heard the term “peripheral canal” uttered by William Gianelli, who was then-Gov. Ronald Reagan’s top water official. The project, in one form or another, had already been kicking around for decades. The California Water Project became operative in the 1960s and was...
CA Senate Passes Hospital Seismic Compliance Bill: What’s the Impact on Local Hospitals?
The California Senate has unanimously passed SB 1432, a bill introduced by Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) to provide a transparent and accountable pathway for hospitals to meet stiffer earthquake codes and stay open in their communities. The bill passed on a 37-0 vote (3 no votes). It addresses the financial...
Take This Memorial Day Quiz Before Warming up the Grill
Memorial Day weekend marks America’s unofficial kickoff of summer. Get an early start on your vacation with this quick, fun quiz. 1. How many Americans are expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend? A. 18 million B. 28 million C. 38 million D. 48 million Answer: C. A...
Hate Wasting Money? Use These 7 Hacks to Feed Your Family for Less
Managing a household's budget is getting tougher day by day. For many, it feels impossible to keep food costs in check as grocery prices surge higher than ever. Rest assured, strategic grocery shopping and careful cooking can save money and streamline household budget management. Set a Budget and Stick to...
NCAA and Leagues Back $2.8 Billion Settlement, Setting Stage for Current, Former Athletes to Be Paid
The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences announced Thursday night that they have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims, a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start steering millions of dollars directly to athletes as...
UC Berkeley Faces a Summer of Discontent as Gaza Protesters Remain Steadfast
BERKELEY — A dozen pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested last week after taking up occupancy in a condemned building, UC Berkeley’s Anna Head Alumnae Hall, which is located about half a mile from campus. The situation here mirrored the tactics adopted by pro-Palestinian supporters at other universities, where encampment leaders agreed...
Newsom Promised 1,200 Tiny Homes for Homeless Californians. How Many Are Being Used?
In March 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom stood before a crowd in Sacramento’s Cal Expo event center and made a promise: He’d send 1,200 tiny homes to shelter homeless residents in the capital city and three other places throughout the state. The move was part of Newsom’s push to improve the...
Fresno Unified Unveils 5-Year Literacy Plan. What Are the Expectations?
Following up on a pledge made a year ago by then-Superintendent Bob Nelson that every Fresno Unified first-grader would be reading at grade level under the district's new literacy initiative, the district late Thursday made public its five-year plan, Every Child Is a Reader. The goal is to make sure...